This year, the Francis Poulenc International Piano Competition has moved from Limousin to Ile-de-France Region. Its high international feature has defended its transfer to the Capital City, thus allowing an easier reach to the young foreign pianists. "La Maison de la Culture du Japon" in Paris will welcome this 9th Edition and the town Barbizon, the concerto final . This transfer honours this competition whose sustainability is both related to Japaners' enthousiasm and the tradition of culture improvement in Barbizon.

Francis Poulenc's piano music is highly appreciated among the young performers because it highlights a genuine authenticity of the French spirit through its obvious and touching simplicity.

In 2013 the 8th Competition celebrated the 50th anniversary of Francis Poulenc’s death. His deep feelings for his so much beloved Limousin Region have revived since 1997 through this competition, gathering young virtuosos from all over the world.

But in 2015, we had to bow to the evidence : the area from which he drew his inspiration and he loved so much has not perceived what he represents for the French music to the foreign pianists." La Maison de la Culture du Japon" in Paris and the town Barbizon understood this well. Thanks to them, the competition will get a second life despite the general economical difficulties.

I have presided the Jury of Francis Poulenc International Piano Competition for many years now, still with the same happiness and emotion.

The first rounds will take place in Paris' big auditorium of the Maison de la Culture du Japon and the concerto final, in Barbizon’s theater. This underlines a striking evolution for the notoriety of this cultural event belonging to the most famous international competitions . It also pays tribute to one of the most important French composers.

Dear Mr. Lagarde,

I thank and congratulate Jacques Lagarde to highlight the Art of our dear Francis Poulenc by organizing the International Piano Competition in Brive-la-Gailarde in Limousin.
Francis Poulenc is a whole musician with big personality, rigor, sensuality and humor and his music is always extremely contrasted.
All along my carrier I have enjoyed conducting all his symphonic and lyric production; he was a nice man but his musical desires were very precise: for instance he was specially very attentive to the length and the atmosphere of the silences. I keep an unforgettable memory of F. Poulenc and he is always on my side one I’m performing his works.

to Jacques Lagarde, Competition's Director.

The way of pianistic writing by Francis Poulenc has taken place in the French music’s tradition and is the natural prolongation of Fauré, Debussy, Ravel.
But we find also a very original sense of the verticality: out of a light appearance springs always an harmonic invention which make this music inimitable.
The F. Poulenc International Piano Competition has the merit to ax the competition around the music and moreover the spirit of this great Master.
I enjoy meeting its Director Jacques Lagarde and all the staff for listening to young selected pianists who will be able both to improve their knowledge about the F. Poulenc work and to marvel at the beautiful Limousin landscapes.